By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
The trial of the former governor of Kebbi State, Usman Sa’idu Dakingari over alleged N450 million fraud scheduled to hold on Thursday could not go on due to absence of the trial judge, Justice Sunday Bassey Onu.
Consequently, the matter was adjourned till October 26, 2020.
Usman Dakingari is standing trial alongside two others, Sunday Dogonyaro and Garba Rabiu Kamba for allegedly receiving the said sum of N450million from the former minister of Petroleum Resources, Diezani Allison-Madueke for the purpose of influencing the 2015 general election.
The day’s proceeding was for continuation of cross-examination of fourth prosecution witness (PW4), Olabode Moses, an officer of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). However, on arriving the state capital, Birnin Kebbi, on Wednesday, October 7, 2020, preparatory to Thursday’s court proceeding, the prosecution team was informed through a text message from the court bailiff at about 3:09 pm that the court would not sit as scheduled, adding that the matter has been adjourned till October 26, 2020.
Recall that the trial could also not hold on the previous adjourned date of June 29, 2020 due to the absence of Dakingari’s counsel in court and that of the second defendant, Sunday Dogonyaro.